Having started building in November 2015, I'm relieved to say that my FS14 hit the water this weekend, and I'm delighted by her looks and handling.
While having a bit of 'Gentleman's Launch' about her I intend to use the boat as a tender for our barge, for surveying rocky waters for charts, and for fishing, as we work up and down the River Shannon here in Ireland with our barge.
I'll admit that I may have gone a bit OTT with some of the wood (it was gifted, beautiful, and had to be used...) and there's a lot more ply and fibreglass than on the plans. However, it was immediately obvious on her maiden voyage that she's immensely solid and stable, and quite capable of being circled full lock at full throttle without a murmur or a slip. She may yet prove a little too heavy for the 15hp Suzuki she was designed for as she won't quite go on the plane, but these are early days, there's lots of tuning yet to be done, and the transom is more than man enough to take something a little larger if that's the only answer.
Main thing is she's finished, and a joy to both look at and use!
FS14 March 2016
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Re: FS14 March 2016
Congrats. She is a good looking boat.
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Re: FS14 March 2016
That looks really nice
More pictures please
fuzz
More pictures please
fuzz
- glossieblack
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Re: FS14 March 2016
What a nice looking boat. Congratulations!
Currently building Jacques Mertens ST21 "Skinnydip". Boating adventures: Splash testing and using 'Skinnydip, as a basis of further building refinement; Adams 44’ sailing sloop "Great Sandy" (cruising and maintaining); Iain Oughtred Feather Pram "Mini Dip" (building); Jacques Mertens R13 "Wood Duck" (built and due for maintenance).
- BarraMan
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Re: FS14 March 2016
Beautiful boat. Well done!
- Walkers Run
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Re: FS14 March 2016
What a beautiful boat. I love it. You sure didn't waste any time building it!
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Re: FS14 March 2016
Nice. It starts with a very simple hull but you had fun with the finishing touches.
Jacques Mertens - Designer
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- cape man
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Re: FS14 March 2016
First....GORGEOUS!!!!
Questions: What's the wood? Is that a hinge in front of the console? Does the whole thing tilt forward? Is Sceach for a Hawthorn or Mayflower? I looked it up first as "sceech" and this is what I found
To hold onto the rear bumper of a car and ski on your sneakers.
The kids were sceeching on the block.
Did you mean that? If so, you will need a bigger engine!!!
Lastly...GORGEOUS!!!!
Questions: What's the wood? Is that a hinge in front of the console? Does the whole thing tilt forward? Is Sceach for a Hawthorn or Mayflower? I looked it up first as "sceech" and this is what I found
To hold onto the rear bumper of a car and ski on your sneakers.
The kids were sceeching on the block.
Did you mean that? If so, you will need a bigger engine!!!
Lastly...GORGEOUS!!!!
The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before - Neil Gaiman
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